As a test event of the technical system at the venue for the next year's Olympic Games, the Intentional Women's Fast Pitch Tournament is to kick off in Beijing Feng Tai Softball Field from October 9 to October 14 with four world's leading softball teams as Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei and China.

 

The four teams, which are ranked between No. 3 to No. 6 in the world, have been qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games.

 

The tournament will take preliminary and semifinals in a page play-off system, final and grand final.

 

Wang Lihong, former pitcher and now head coach of the host team, said after training here on Monday: "It's a great opportunity to play against stronger teams than us, like Australia and Canada. We'll test our young players and gain experience from the event."

 

China brought home a silver medal from the 1996 Atlantic Olympic Games before slumping to fourth in 2000 and 2004 Olympics.

 

"There are no weak rivals at the Olympic Games, but we still hope we can do a better job," Wang said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2007)